Collagen Stimulators and Their Use in the Treatment of Skin

A method for improving the aesthetic appearance of human skin comprising topically applying to an area of the skin in need thereof a composition comprising an effective amount of a compound according to formula I(a):

• wherein,
• L is a bond or a divalent radical selected from —(C═O)—, —O(C═O)—, —N(R*)—(C═O)—, —(CH2)k—, —O—(CH2)k—, —N(R*)—(CH2)k—, —(CH2)k—(C═O)—, —(CH2)k—O—(C═O)—, —(CH2)k—N(R*)—(C═O)—, where K is an integer from 1-3;
• Q represents a five-membered heterocyclic ring selected from the following:
• wherein ε1, ε2, and ε3, are independently selected from N, NH, NR*, S, and O;
• with the proviso that where the point of attachment is ε1, ε2, or ε3, then that position represents N;
• and wherein carbon atoms which are not the point of attachment may be optionally substituted with a group R;
• and wherein the dashed circles indicate that each ring may comprise zero, one, or two double bonds;
• R1-R5 are independently selected, at each occurrence, from a group R;
• wherein R is selected from hydrogen, —F;
• —Cl;
• —Br;
• —I;
• —OH, —OR*;
• —NH2;
• —NHR*;
• —N(R*)2;
• —N(R*)3+;
• —N(R*)—OH;
• —N(→O)(R*)2;
• —O—N(R*)2;
• —N(R*)—O—R*;
• —N(R*)—N(R*)2;
• —C═N—R*;
• —N═C(R*)2;
• —C═N—N(R*)2;
• —C(═NR*)—N(R*)2;
• —SH;
• —SR*;
• —CN;
• —NC;
• —(C═O)—R*;
• —CHO;
• —CO2H;
• —CO2−;
• —CO2—R*;
• —(C═O)—S—R*;
• —O(C═O)H;
• —O(C═O)—R*;
• —S—(C═O)—R*;
• —(C═O)—NH2;
• —(C═O)—N(R*)2;
• —(C═O)—NHNH2;
• —O(C═O)—NHNH2;
• —(C═S)—NH2;
• —(C═S)—N(R*)2;
• —N(R*)—CHO;
• —N(R*)—(C═O)—R*;
• —(C═NR)—O—R*;
• —O—(C═NR*)—R*, —SCN;
• —NCS;
• —NSO;
• —SSR*;
• —N(R*)—C(═O)—N(R*)2;
• —N(R*)—C(═S)—N(R*)2;
• —SO2—R*;
• —O—S(═O)2—R*;
• —S(═O)2—OR*;
• —N(R*)—SO2—R*;
• —SO2—N(R*)2;
• —O—SO3−;
• —O—S(═O)2—OR*;
• —O—S(═O)—OR*;
• —O—S(═O)—R*;
• —S(═O)—OR*;
• —S(═O)—R*;
• —NO;
• —NO2;
• —NO3;
• —O—NO;
• —O—NO2;
• —N3;
• —N2—R*;
• —N(C2H4);
• —Si(R*)3;
• —CF3;
• —O—CF3;
• —PR*2;
• —O—P(═O)(OR*)2;
• —P(═O)(OR*)2;
• perfluoroalkyl;
• an aliphatic C1-C12 hydrocarbon radical;
• a C1-C12 aromatic hydrocarbon radical;
• or a C1-C12 heteroaryl radical;
• where R* is independently at each occurrence hydrogen or a branched, cyclic, or straight chained C1-C20 hydrocarbon radical that is saturated, partially saturated, or aromatic, optionally substituted with 1-6 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or halogen;
• RN is hydrogen or a saturated, partially saturated, or aromatic C1-C20 hydrocarbon radical, optionally substituted with 1-6 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or halogen;
• and salts thereof,
• for a time sufficient to improve the aesthetic appearance of said human skin.